THE BOLAN TREE IN LATE 1992

YELLOW BACKGROUND:
1) This section is directly related to 'The Bolan Tree' attack on the 18th December 1992. As you can see, it was the healthier of the twin-trunks which was felled by these two men. It is not known if the two men were found and prosecuted, but it was a clear sign of how vulnerable 'The Bolan Tree' was to what we will politely call "the unhinged". Since TAG signed the lease on the site, we have experienced a number of 'incidents' which regrettably have gone unpunished and TAG has been forced to use valuable funds putting right the 'vandalism' so this is regrettably, an on-going situation.
2) When TAG took on the lease and discussed the future of the site one thing the residents were not happy with the all-night vigils. It is nice to see that the 'Marc Bolan Liberation Front' who published this article agree with TAG that the site is not suitable for such activities both from a safety viewpoint and also to be in-line with the wishes of the local residents whose properties overlook the site.

BLUE BACKGROUND:
This section relates to:
1) Richmond Council: Although TAG approached Richmond Council with regard to planning permission, we did not ask for any funding from Richmond Council when TAG formed to Save 'The Bolan Tree', to build steps to make the site safer and to care for the site, we were determined to raise the funds needed by selling Fund-raisers as detailed in the TAG Fund-raising page. Richmond Council did, however demand Architect Drawn Plans for the Steps to be submitted with the Planning Permission application.
2) The Land Owners The probable unwillingness of the landowners British Rail* to welcome a permanent Memorial at the site is mentioned in this article and TAG certainly encountered this when we wrote to the landowners for permission to build the steps, Save The Bolan Tree and care for the site in a long-term manner. * Later to become Rail Track before changing to Network Rail.
3) The PRS When the Performing Right Society decided to install the Memorial at Marc's Shrine in 1997 to commemorate the 20th Anniversary of Marc Bolan's passing the project come to fruition because the PRS are a credible organisation and John Logan who can be seen in the Memorial Unveiling Video and photographs lived at Number 10 Gipsy Lane at the time, so the PRS Memorial was placed facing Gipsy Lane and it was one of the first thing he saw every time he left his drive to enter the private section of Gipsy Lane. It is uncertain whether without these two factors the landowners would have given permission for the placement of the Memorial. It is also noticeable that it was placed in Gipsy Lane, rather than at the top of the embankment, next to 'The Bolan Tree' because it would further attract people to the pavementless section of the busy Queen's Ride. The worries regarding this are high-lighted in section 2) shaded yellow.

PINK BACKGROUND:
When TAG formed, we did not expect to receive substantial funding from any outside or official body. We were determined to raise the money ourselves through the sale of fund raisers to fans. However, now that the site has been;

A) Incorporated into 'Barnes Common Conservation Area' in 2002 after TAG submitted the plans to install the Bronze Bust at the site;

B) Was recognised by The English Tourist Board (Now 'Enjoy England") in 2007 as a 'Site of Rock 'n Roll Importance';

C) Of sufficient importance to feature in the six-part BBC TV Series 'Pagans and Pilgrims: Britain's Holiest Places'

D) T.Rex was inducted into the 'Rock 'n Roll Hall Of Fame' in 2020 which has increased interest in T.Rex and Marc Bolan's Shrine almost exponentially from around the globe ...

In the future it is essential to secure funding from fans, but also from appropriate bodies to enable TAG to further improve the site to ensure it meets the needs of fans, locals and all those who have Marc's Shrine on their 'Bucket List' in the 21st Century. Three factors are essential, although there are associated costs as detailed below;

1) The provision of a mains electricity supply to the site which will allow the instillation of CCTV camera(s) so TAG can provide a 'Live Stream' from Marc's Shrine 24 hour a day, seven days a week broadcast which will benefit;
     A) Fans inside and outside the UK who can 'check-in' whenever they wish to enjoy the site, especially on significant dates such as Anniversaries.
     B) It is anticipated that as well as the 'Live Stream' the CCTV footage should be stored for a rolling period of 30 days so that the footage can be viewed if any vandalism occurs to increase the likelihood of claiming damages from the perpetrator(s) so TAG can make good their damage/vandalism/etc..

2) The provision of a mains water supply to the site. A water supply, along with a mains electricity supply will allow an underground irrigation system to be installed, so when funds have been raised to buy the trees and shrubs and the site is replanted* with an increased likelihood of survival. This is aimed at helping redress the effects of the 2021 'Valentine's Day Massacre' by ill-informed, under-trained Network Rail operatives working in the section of land adjacent to Marc's Shrine to the point they encroached onto Marc Bolan's Rock Shrine and 'topped' and felled some of our trees.
* The trees and shrubs will be appropriate to the site's status within 'Barnes Common Conservation Area' as advised by Richmond Council.

Finally, TAG will also need to ensure we have a regular income sufficient to pay the on-going costs associated with mains water usage as recorded on the fitted water metre, electricity usage and standing charges, CCTV 'Live Stream' costs including CCTV camera maintenance, 30 day rolling data storage, and a sufficient data allowance to maintain the life-stream camera(s) to run 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

GREEN BACKGROUND - HACKNEY:
1) This relates to the efforts made to secure a permanent memorial for Marc Bolan in Hackney, where Marc Bolan was born - Mark Feld. The write-up is incorrect with regard to Hackney Hospital. Research undertaken by TAG Founder for her "London Boy" guidebook to over 60 sites of Marc Bolan & T.Rex interest in London showed that although the Hackney Hospital was planned, work was postponed due to the onset of WWII. It was not completed until after the date Marc Bolan - then Mark Feld was born. The Bronze Bust or Full Bronze Statue did not come to fruition because of fears at the time that it would be vandalised and/or stolen*. The campaign did, however see Hackney Council install a Brown Memorial Plaque in Stoke Newington* at the home baby Mark's parents lived until they moved to Summerstown. Stoke Newington is within the north-west part of the London Borough of Hackney in north-east London.
* It was suggested a similar fate might befall the Bronze Bust TAG installed less than ten years after this article and there have been several relatively minor attacks on the Bronze Bust in Barnes, but fortunately it is still there!

PURPLE BACKGROUND: GOLDERS GREEN MULTI-DENOMINATIONAL CREMATORIUM - MARK FELD
This relates to Golders Green where Marc Bolan's ashes are interred under a white rose bush.

1) The plaques referred to as the 'small marker plaques' which were regularly stolen by 'fans' relates to the small brown plastic marker placed at Mark Feld's rose bush. These went missing so regularly that after a few years the only marker at The Rose Bush was a lolly-pop stick with the words "Mark Feld" written in pen. After both Marc's parents' ashes were interred with their son's the Marker plaque gave the details of all three people - Mark Feld, Phyllis Feld* and Sid Feld**
* Phyllis Feld died on the 11th January 1991. Mickey Finn would die on the same date in 2003.
** Simeon (Sid) Feld died on the 19th September 1991 - eight months and eight days after his beloved wife.

2) In the early 1990's The recently formed Tyrannosaurus Rex Appreciation Society* started fund raising and entered into negotiations with The London Cremation Company PLC** who run Golders Green Crematorium to have a very tasteful Cream-Coloured round plaque on the well at the Crematorium. There were many fund raisers sold via the 'Tyrannosaurus Rex Appreciation Society' fanzine 'Rumblings' which the article didn't include because they weren't for sale then. TAG Founder Fee donated to this appeal and was very proud when, in 1994 the plaque was unveiled on the wall at Golders Green Crematorium.

Unlike TAG, where there are no outside parties to pay because The London Cremation Company is just that - A Company which expects to make a profit from their sites to pay Share Dividents to it's two million + share-holders as well as the eight directors of the company. . Everything within the crematorium compound is on a fixed term 'lease'. There is a list of people who would like to have their plaque/or other tribute within the crematorium grounds, and at one stage the 'wall space lease' for this original Wall Plaque at Golders Green Crematorium expired and someone was waiting for the opportunity to replace that plaque with one for their own loved on!

Fortunately the rental was paid so it is still there. In TAG's case this is not a problem, because TAG have an in-perpetuity lease on the entire site, so as long as TAG exists there are no 'fixed term leases'. TAG needs to fund-raise to keep the site looking as it should, and to improve the site both in terms of it's aesthetics and also with regard to visitor safety.
* Later to become 'The Bolan Society' although still using the name 'Rumblings' for their publications.
** Golders Green Crematorium is just one of six Crematoria run by The London Cremation Company PLC. The latest declared annual accounts which can be studied in full using the Company House document link below.